Various civil society groups, opposition leaders, and prominent figures within Nigeria’s business sector have praised the federal government for the exemplary progress on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. They also lauded President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its unwavering dedication to advancing infrastructure and fostering economic development.
These stakeholders, impressed by the quality and pace of the ongoing work, shared their views with the press during a site visit in Lagos. They emphasized the importance of transcending political divides to back projects like the coastal highway, highlighting the need to verify the workmanship and recognize the significant economic advantages such initiatives bring.
During the inspection, Minister of Works Senator David Umahi revealed that the initial segment of the 750-kilometer highway-from Ahmadu Bello Way in Victoria Island, Lagos, to Eleko, Lagos-is slated for completion by May 2026. He expressed satisfaction with the contractor Hi-Tech’s performance, noting that 35 kilometers have been finalized, with only 12 kilometers remaining in this first phase.
Otunba Segun Showunmi, a policy analyst, senior member of the Peoples Democratic Party, and founder of The Alternative, stressed the necessity of a unified vision for national progress. He remarked, “Nation-building demands a strategic, long-term approach. In a multi-party democracy, sustaining such a strategy requires consensus on development goals.”
He continued, “Achieving consensus means genuinely listening to understand, not merely to criticize, and verifying facts firsthand. What I witnessed today is truly commendable. Despite our political differences, Nigeria must collectively strive to find common ground for growth.”
Showunmi drew parallels with countries like South Korea, Malaysia, and the United Arab Emirates, noting that their rapid advancements stemmed from shared national development goals. “At 65 years of independence, Nigeria should urgently align its infrastructure ambitions with models from globally competitive economies,” he added.
He urged Nigerians to embrace bold investments in transformative infrastructure projects that will propel the nation forward economically.
Olufemi Awoyemi, chairman of Proshare Group, a leading Nigerian financial information platform, described the coastal highway as a pivotal infrastructure venture and a benchmark for financing large-scale projects. “This highway offers an alternative route that alleviates current traffic bottlenecks and serves as a critical test for funding major infrastructure,” Awoyemi explained.
Declan Ihekaire, representing about 20 civil society organizations during the tour, expressed gratitude for the invitation and praised the quality of work completed so far. “As civil society, we should not default to criticism. When progress is evident, it’s important to acknowledge and encourage it. Ultimately, the people stand to benefit from these initiatives,” he stated.
Minister Umahi, while briefing the media, underscored the importance of using concrete for durable road construction, citing emerging economies like India that have successfully employed this material for long-lasting infrastructure. He confirmed that the first section of the coastal highway spans 47 kilometers and that work on the second phase-from Eleko, Lagos, to Ode-Omi in Ogun State-has already begun.
He highlighted the careful measures taken during construction, such as preserving landmarks like the Landmark Centre and removing waste to a depth of 10 meters to properly align the concrete roadbed. “I personally inspected the project variations and execution quality,” Umahi said. He also addressed concerns regarding the WinHomes real estate project, involving alleged $200 million diaspora investments, promising collaboration with the EFCC, DSS, and civil society groups to investigate.
To maintain transparency, the minister assured that regular updates and media engagements would continue throughout the project’s duration.
Beyond the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Umahi outlined three other major infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing national connectivity: the 477-kilometer Trans-Saharan Highway linking Calabar, Ebonyi, Kogi, Benue, Nasarawa, and the Federal Capital Territory; the 422-kilometer Akwanga-Jos-Bauchi-Gombe Expressway; and the 1,068-kilometer Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway.
“Roads and bridges form the backbone of any nation’s GDP, enabling growth across all sectors,” Umahi emphasized. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu understands this deeply, as demonstrated during his tenure as Lagos State Governor, where Lagos evolved into an economic powerhouse within Nigeria.”
He concluded, “Our efforts are fully aligned with the President’s vision to develop infrastructure that drives sustainable economic progress.”
